Washing-machine.



W. F. BICKFORDQ WASHING MACHINE.

ATION FILED SEPT.20

APPLI 193199? u Patented July 3, 1917.

2 sssssssss [ET 1.

W. F. BICKFORD.

WASHING MACHINE.

'APPLICATION FILED SEPT.20,1916.

. Patented July 3, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 WITNESSES ATTOR N EY wherein like reference WARREN F. IBICKFORD, OF MUSKOGEE,

OKLAHOMA.

WASHIN G-IVIAOHIN E.

Application filed September To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WARREN F. BIOKFOBD, a citizen. of the United States, residing at uskogee, in the county of Muskogee and State of Oklahoma, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Washingachines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a washing ma chine for general use, especially, however, in connection with articles like dishes and clothing.

The main object is to provide a machine of this class which is capable of manufacture at very low cost so that it may be especially well adapted to the needs of the household when made relatively small in size, although I do not limit myself to any particular size or use. At the same time it is a desideratum to construct the machines so thatthey will prove efiicient and durable in use.

prime object is to produce a means to agitate the washing water and to deflect the said water through its momentum over the articles to be cleansed.

Another important objectis to provide a cage to mount the deflecting means and receive the basket containing the articles to be cleansed.

In addition, I aim to provide a crank operating member and bearing means for the cage and basket; means to prevent packing of the articles in the basket and support certain articles in a substantially vertical or inclined position.

ther objects, mostly servient to those stated, will become apparent as the following description progresses, and which is to be considered conjointly with the accompanying drawings wherein one preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated.

Of said drawings Figure 1 is a plan view of the washing machine, with a portion of the cover broken away to illustrate the interior construction;

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross sectional view substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, but being taken through the entire cover;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the cage employed;

Fig. 4 is a detail view of one of the deflecting blades of the cage; and

ig. 5 is a detail crosssectional the line 55 of Fig.2.

Referring specifically to the drawings, characters designate view on Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J1 uly 3, 11917. 20, 1916. Serial No. 121,237.

like or similar 6 designates a container or receptacle within which the water and washing means is d1sshape; however, for example having a bottom wall 7, an upwardly flaring conical wall 8 and a substantially vertical side wall 9, which may have a beaded reinforced at 10 which is its upper edge. tacle cover is shown at 11 and has a downwardly extending annular wall 12 adapted to telescope in the wall 9 removably. At 13 an operating crank is shown which extends from a vertical power shaft 14 journaled in a bearing 15 at the crown of cover 11. At its lower end, the shaft 14 is provided with a slot 16. A bearing stud 17 is mounted interiorly of the receptacle 6 and at the center of the bottom wall 7.

Interiorly of the receptacle 6, a cage of suitable construction is provided and which may have a vertical cylindrical wall 18 and a bottom wall 19 from which extends up wardly at its center, a hollow or tubular bearing 20 intowhich the stud 17 extends so as to rotatably mount the cage. The walls 18 and 19 are foraminous, especially adjacent their bases, through the provision of openings at 21.

Within the cage, mounted; the one shown being of the same general shape as the cage, since it has a bottom wall 22 and a cylindrical side wall 23, and is foraminous through the provision of openings 24. Also a tube 25 rises vertically from the wall 22 at its center and is adapted to slide over and around the tube or hearing 20 in order to mount the basket within the cage. Suitable handles 26 may be secured to the cage to facilitate handling thereof.

As will be seen upon reference to Figs. 2 and 5, a diametrically extending pin 27 is fastened to the bearing 20 and adapted to be received within the slot 16 so that when the crank 13 is turned, the rotary movement will be imparted to the cage and the basket contained therein.

It is advisable in some instances to provide a means Within the basket so as to prevent packing of articles therein and also, in the case of rigid articles like dishes, to support them in substantially vertical positions or in inclined positions. While any effective means to this end may be used, yet, for example, I have shown a plurality of vertical lugs 22 secured to and extending upwardly from the bottom wall 22 of the basket. It will be understood that by placing rigid articles intermediate a number of the lugs, that they will be maintained in substantially vertical positions, or the inclined positions referred to.

Further in order to maintain the walls 22 and 19 properly spaced so that the water may flow from the basket to the cage into the receptacle 6, spacing disks may be provided, which are designated 28 and for instance soldered or otherwise secured to the under surface of the wall 22.

A very important feature of the invention resides in the particular construction, location and function of water agitating and deflecting means in the form of one or more blades generally designated 29 and fastened on the exterior wall 18 of the cage and be ing of such area as to substantially bridge the space intermediate the wall 8 and the wall 18 and extending spirally around the cage. Each blade 29 projects laterally from I the wall 18 and at its base which is located adjacent the wall 19, is relatively narrow. However, these blades widen and at their tops are relatively wide so as to substantially fill the space between the vertical line of wall18 and the wall 9. .Also these blades are disposed at an angle gradually and flatly curved upwardly. The angle for the blades throughout most of their lengths in actual practice is approximately sixty degrees. At their top, the blades are deflected or curled inwardly at 29 toward the vertical axis of the machine so as to deflect water with which they impinge, upwardly, over and into the basket. 1

With most machines, I prefer to furnish at least two of the baskets, but in this connection, I do not limit myself.

In use, prior to starting a washing operation, the cover 11, shaft 14, and basket 22-23 are disassociated. The articles to be washed are placed within the basket. If they be of fabric material, they will not pack or clog the openings 24 due to the provision of the lugs at the bottom of the basket. If the articles are rigid, then they may be substantially vertically disposed and maintained in such position by contact with the lugs 22. Prior to or after placing the goods within the basket, it is replaced within the cage 18. Thereupon the cover 11 is secured to the receptacle and later the shaft 14: is positioned in the bearing 15 and with its slot 16 receiving the pin 27. With a supply of water within the receptacle 6, which may be admitted prior to the application of cover 11 thereto, and .which may be charged with a suitable detergent means, if desired, the

. crank 13 is manually turned so as to impart motion to the cage, its blades 29 and the basket therein. Preferably, the handle is turned from left to right to eflectively agitate the water and cause water to leave the center of the machine. When the water leaves such center it courses around the side of the receptacle at great velocity and power. The momentum of the water will cause it to rise and travel upwardly on the blades 29 and through engagement with the curled upper ends, extend above the basket and then fall onto the dishes with much power and force, much like a waterfall, effectively cleansing the said dishes or other articles. when contained therein. In actual use, I find it advisable to turn the crank from left to right say six or eight times and gradually increase the speed of rotation before suddenly stopping the movement by holding the handle 18 rigid. When this action has been accomplished, the water will continue its movement and of itself cleanse the dishes or other articles. The said movement draws tbewater out of the basket centrifugally and causes it to flow beneath the sides of the cage and the receptacle at a rate of speed of about four yards, a second. The water is carried upwardly as described, by the momentum of the water due to its weight when it has the velocity set forth imparted thereto. This process is preferably repeated and the number of times can be varied at will is obvious and as conditions may require, or render advisable. If desired, after the basket has been removed, while the contents are still within it may be rinsed'in clear water. Preferably the washing water and rinsingwater when the latter is used, should be of a high temperature, so that when the dishes have been washed and rinsed, the water will readily evaporate from the dishes and thus avoid the necessity of drying them as is usual, through the instrumentality of a cloth.

It is to be understood that I have described merely one form of this invention in View of which fact, changes in the sizes, details, combinations and arrangement of the parts may be resorted to while they fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by appended claims.

I claim:

1. A washing machine comprising an external liquid container, a rotatable cage within the container, and a blade wider at its upper than at its lower end secured at one edge exteriorly of said cage and arranged at an oblique angle thereon, its upper end projecting above the cage and curving inwardly upon-itself to direct a cleansing fluid passing up the blade into the cage.

2. A washing machine comprising a vessel, a movable cage within said vessel and spared from the walls thereof, and a blade carried by the outer wall of the cage and being of such width as to bridge the space between said vessel and cage, said blade being disposed at an angle and gradually into which said curved upwardly and the upper end of said blade extending above the to of said cage and curled inwardly towari the vertical axis of the machine whereby a cleansing fluid is deflected into the cage from above.

3. A washing machine comprising a vessel having flaring side walls, a cylindrical cage mounted to turn in said vessel, a plurality of water agitating and deflecting blades carried by the outer face of the side walls of said cage and being of such width as to substantially bridge the space between said vessel and cage side walls, said blades being narrowat their lower ends and'gradually widening toward their upper ends, said blades being disposed at an angle and gradually curved upwardly and extending above said cage and provided at their upper ends with means to deflect water over the top and into' said cage.

4. A washing machine having a vessel, a stud associated with said vessel interiorly thereof, a cage having an upstanding tube stud extends to turnably mount the cage, a basket within the cage having a tube surrounding the upstanding cage tube, means associatedwith the upstanding cage tube, and an operating member engageable with said means to permit turning movement of the cage.

5. A washing machine having a vessel, a stud associated with said vessel interiorly thereof, a foraminous cage having an upstanding tube, said stud extending into said tube. to turnably mount the cage, a basket within the cage, said basket having a tube surrounding the upstanding tube, sald basket being foraminous, means in the form of a laterally, upwardly and inwardly extending blade carried by the cage to deflect a cleansing medium into the basket from above, an operating member, and means associated with the upstanding tube being engageable by said operating member to permit turning movement of the cage.

In testimony whereof I afix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WARREN F. BIOKFORD,

Witnesses:

CHAS. B. LAW, BERT E. N UssBAUM. 

